News Editor
By News Editor, Abuja
There appears to be a dilemma between Nigerian power brokers over who to support in the next year presidential election.
The presidential aspirations of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, to lead Nigeria from 2023, has divided the nation’s top political and military leaders.
They are the traditional kingmakers in the country’s political contest. they include former the military generals and some prominent Traditional Rulers. Some of the kingmakers include ex President Olusegun Obasanjo; former military leaders: Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar; Gen. Theophilus Danjuma Aliyu Gusau and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar respectively.
While Obasanjo, the church generals and dozens of Nigeria youths are for Mr Peter Obi, the northerners prefer Atiku for his experience and reach across the country. It was also learnt that many of the powerful kingmakers believe that Obi is a candidate for the future.
Atiku is contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Obi is in Labour Party (LP).
Before he joined LP last May, Mr Obi was one of the presidential aspirants of PDP.
A New Telegraph source, who volunteered information revealed that apart from former President Obasanjo, every other political and military leader is in support of the former Atiku’s aspiration.
Said the source: “Obasanjo is with Obi but every other person that matters is supporting Atiku, including (General Aliyu) Gusau, IBB and Sultan of Sokoto.”
He, however, expressed confidence that Atiku would win next year’s presidential election, despite the threat by Obi.
According to him, the LP presidential candidate poses a threat to Atiku because he was coming from PDP bloc.
“But Obi cannot win. He narrowed down his campaign only to Christian bloc. He has not penetrated the Muslim faith.
“His vice presidential candidate is colourless. Imagine if he has chosen the former CBN governor (Lamido) Sanusi. He would been able to penetrate the Muslim in the North.
“His campaign DG, Doyin Okupe, is a Christian. If he had been a Muslim from the South West, he would have made the difference,” he stated.
He did not see the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a threat because of his Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“We have embarked on inter-faith dialogue. Christians are with us because the vice presidential candidate (Ifeanyi) Okowa is a Christian,” he added.
The source further disclosed that PDP is likely to inaugurate its national campaign council this week, arguing that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike could not continue to hold the party down.
“The campaign is going to be segmented. There is going to be committees at state and local government levels. Everybody will be involved,” he added.
Credit: New Telegraph
